Pantagraph.com | News | U.S. corn industry cranking up for ethanol boom

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

No Spraying, No Crop wrote on May 8, 2007 3:33 AM:

" What happens when the crop can't be sprayed because your neighbor exercised his "right" to put up a wind turbine on his property and you have to pay twice as much to spray by air or be unable to protect your crop at all, as testified to at the recent McLean County Zoning Board hearings on the effects of wind turbines on farming in McLean County. Don't believe it when the wind company says only 1/3 acre taken out of production per turbine. At Paw Paw, there is NO aerial application within the boundaries of the wind farm. "

To Ethanol Scam wrote on May 7, 2007 5:23 PM:

" Wouldn't paying more now be worth it if it sets up the infrastructure (distribution channels, etc.) for cheaper fuel mixes later? As technology advances, maybe other crops, mixes, etc will result. If we can increase our self-sufficiency by reducing the amount of foreign oil we buy, maybe the temporary increased cost is worth it. "

Ethanol Scam wrote on May 7, 2007 4:05 PM:

" It's been repeatedly documented and reported that there are marginal if any "energy gains" from using ethanol instead of gas. In other words, it takes nearly as much energy to create the ethanol as it produces once created. It is also subsidized by the govt, so it's not cheaper than gas either. The whole thing is a scam. Is anyone surprised that ADM, the largest producer of ethanol, is also one of the largest donors to both parties? "

What A Great Idea... wrote on May 7, 2007 3:07 PM:

" Let's burn our food in our cars. Then we can complain when food prices go up. "

To "to To !!" wrote on May 7, 2007 1:27 PM:

" At least you have a choice who you want to support even IF the cost/benefit is not the same. "

AJ wrote on May 7, 2007 10:16 AM:

" To 'corn price up' You have absolutely no clue on how farming is done anymore do you? If you did, you'd realize that most farmers are paying very high cash rent rates because they don't own their own ground. Very few farmers in East Central IL farm their own ground. Take an ag class before you post on this kind of topic. "

to To !! wrote on May 7, 2007 10:16 AM:

" 10% ethanol is great because it gives my car 10% lower gas mileage and I have to fill up more. Thanks, guys! "

To !! wrote on May 7, 2007 9:01 AM:

" Cars can run on ethanol (10%) and people should start using this instead of foreign oil- It is the E85 that you need special cars for- "

To ? wrote on May 7, 2007 8:23 AM:

" What happens if the sun doesn't come out for 3 months and all photosysthis stops? "

corn price up wrote on May 7, 2007 7:23 AM:

" now is time to stop giving farmers money. let them live on what they grow not what the government gives them. if you figure the value of their land, machinery, etc. they make millions per year. just most of it they can right off on their taxes and than the government gives out. "

!! wrote on May 7, 2007 7:21 AM:

" first the cars on the road have to beable to burn this fuel. very few can now and it will take years to get every car running it. "

To awesome wrote on May 7, 2007 6:58 AM:

" The cost of grain in cereal, bread, and other food items is minimal. If food prices go up, it's largely due to the processor using increased grain costs as an excuse. "

To:? wrote on May 6, 2007 11:26 PM:

" Perhaps we use that water to hose down the protesters at the 2008 National Democratic Convention. "

Awesome wrote on May 6, 2007 9:35 PM:

" Food prices on their way up! Right along with gas prices, property taxes, electricity, college tuition... and they say there is no inflation! It would be nice if government would subsidize something decent like battery technology, solar power, fusion, etc. but instead, we get pandering to the middle America god and soil types. Don't get me wrong, I love their food, but they don't need to be in the fuel business, too. "

FINALLY wrote on May 6, 2007 7:55 PM:

" CAN WE NOW QUIT SUBSIDIZING,OR IS THAT GOING TO BE ANOTHER UNTOUCHABLE ENTITLEMENT? CAN THE GOVERNMENT EVER GET OUT OF THE WAY? FOOD PRODUCTS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER,BUT,AT LEAST YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR ACTUALY PAYING FOR SOMETHING. "

Even A Flash In The Pan wrote on May 6, 2007 7:20 PM:

" is one more flash in the pan than farmers have had - really - since World War II. And decoupling any substantial amount of energy usage from the finite reserves of the volatile Middle East is no bad thing. As with the unfavorable trade imbalance with the Pacific Rim, patriotism costs more ..... as E85 will. "

all wrote on May 6, 2007 6:52 PM:

" it takes is a bad bug year to eat up the corn silks like the japanese beetles did last year, & poof, no corn crop "

? wrote on May 6, 2007 2:20 PM:

" what happens to the corn if the incesticide used to controll root worms stops killing them. than the price of fuel from corn sky rockets and we are all back in the same boat. remember these plants will use millions of gallons of water per day. will drinking water be there from wells or drained from the ground by these plants? just something to think about. "

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